Effects of Body Condition on Performance

1. Effects of Body Condition on Performance Web Presentation Updated July 2004

2. Using body condition scoring to fine tune herd nutrition and health management has become a widely accepted practice. • This presentation will examine the influence of body condition on • milk production, • dry matter intake, • reproduction, and • health of cows in your herd

3. Periods 1 2 3 4 5 Body Stores Used for Milk Production Body Stores Regained for Next Lactation Dry Period Rumen Rehab Freshening 1 2 3 4 5 6 9 11 0 7 8 10 12 Month Nutrient and Milk Yield Relationships in the Lactation and Gestation Cycle Dry Matter Intake Milk Production Body Weight

4. BCS and Milk Production • BCS at calving • < 2.75  reduced milk yield • > 3.25  reduced milk yield • Penn State & Cornell research shows cows with a BCS >3.25 at calving produce 5 pounds less milk each day than cows with lower BCS during the first 30 days of lactation • BCS change after calving • Decrease of 1 BCS unit  increase of 930 lb milk in 305-d lactation • Body reserves essential to support milk production Waltner et al., 1993 Pedron et al., 1993

5. Excess Body Condition Fat Cow Syndrome Ketosis Displaced Abomasum Milk Fever Metritis Mastitis Lameness Limited Dry Matter Intake Thin Body Condition Lameness BCS and Increased Health Risk Metabolic problems can set the stage for consequences of other nutritional-stress complications, including infections such as mastitis.

6. BCS and Reproduction • Cows > 3.75 BCS at dry off were 2.8 times more likely than cows with average BCS to experience the following reproductive problems in their next lactation • Dystocia • Retained placenta • Uterine infection • Cystic ovaries • Abortion Gearhart et al., 1990

7. Relationship between BCS Loss in First 5 Weeks after Calving and Reproduction Butler and Smith, 1989

8. In Summary. . . • BCS changes can cause problems when they are • Too Little • Too Much • Too Rapidly Changed

9. Managing Body Condition Loss • Avoid over conditioning • If cows are fat at dry off • Do Not allow BCS loss during dry period • Body condition score dry cows to monitor changes • Maximize dry matter intake of close up and fresh cows to limit negative energy balance

10. BCS Loss in High Producers • High-producing cows can lose between 100 to 150 pounds during the first 60 to 80 days (the equivalent of 1 BCS unit) • Rate of 1 to 2 pounds per day • But weight loss of 3 to 4 pounds per day • May increase the possibility of metabolic disorders such as ketosis • May discourage implantation of the fetus, resulting in cows that are "apparently not conceiving"

11. More on High Producers • Negative energy balance is common for high-producing cows in early lactation • Mobilized body fat is used to produce milk • 1 pound of mobilized fat = 7 pounds of milk • Our goal is to minimize weight loss by encouraging intake of • High quality, highly palatable forage dry matter at 1.8 to 2.0% of body weight daily • Sufficient grain, the quantity being gradually increased over the first few weeks of lactation

12. Managing Body Condition Gain • Add body condition in late lactation • Efficient storage of energy • Monitor BCS of lactating cows to identify thin and fat cows early, in time to make adjustments before drying off • Avoid changes in BCS during dry period • Very thin cows may benefit from extra feed in the early dry period

13. More on Body Condition Gain • Cows should start replenishing fat reserves after reaching peak milk • A few cows, 5 to 10%, may never put on much flesh • A similar proportion may be "easy keepers" and tend to be obese most of the time

14. BCS Changes Over Lactation • Efficient, high producing cows do not experience large changes in body condition • Inefficient, low producing cows increase in BCS over a lactation • Most cows are between these extremes • BCS decreases to about 100 days • Then increases until dry-off

15. Recommended BCS by Stage of Lactation

16. BCS at Calving • Recommended Score: 3.25 to 3.75 • Nutritional Objective: • Cows calve with adequate, but not excessive, body-fat reserves

17. BCS < 3.25 Too little energy provided in late lactation or dry period Risk low milk production Especially if ration is not balanced or not palatable BCS > 3.75 Too much energy provided in late lactation or dry period Separate dry cows from milking herd Feed low-energy ration balanced for protein, minerals, and vitamins Niacin may help Reduce ketosis Increase fat mobilization Increase appetite Red Flags – Calving

18. BCS in Early Lactation • Recommended Score: 2.75 to 3.25 • Nutritional Objectives: • Maximize intake of a high-energy ration • Minimize body condition loss and offset negative energy balance • Ration must contain enough protein to support high milk production

19. BCS < 2.75 and low milk production Too little energy provided in ration High producers may drop below 2.75, but condition must be regained to prevent reproductive problems BCS > 3.25 Too little protein provided in ration to support milk production Check intake of water, minerals, and vitamins Red Flags – Early Lactation

20. BCS at Peak Milk Yield • Recommended Score: 2.5 to 3.25 • Nutritional Objectives: • Maximize intake of a high-energy ration • Minimize body condition loss and offset negative energy balance • Ration must contain enough protein to support high milk production

21. BCS < 2.5 and low milk production Too little energy provided in ration BCS > 3.25 Too little protein provided in ration Check intake of water, minerals, and vitamins Red Flags – Peak Milk

22. BCS in Mid Lactation • Recommended Score: 2.75 to 3.25 • Nutritional Objectives: • Maintain body condition • Begin to gain condition for maximum milk production • Avoid excessive body weight gain

23. BCS < 2.75 Too little energy provided in ration Problem probably began in early lactation BCS > 3.25 Reduce energy intake to avoid over conditioning Red Flags – Mid Lactation

24. BCS in Late Lactation • Recommended Score: 3.0 to 3.75 • Nutritional Objectives: • Replenish body reserves to prepare for next lactation • Avoid over conditioning

25. BCS < 3.0 Too little energy provided in ration Problems likely began earlier in the lactation BCS > 3.75 Too much energy provided in ration Also may result from extended calving intervals Red Flags – Late Lactation

26. BCS at Dry Off • Recommended Score: 3.25 to 3.75 • Nutritional Objectives: • Prepare for next lactation • Maintain condition through dry period – do not lose, especially if cows enter dry period fat • Avoid over conditioning by feeding low-energy ration with adequate protein, minerals, and vitamins

27. BCS < 3.25 Too little energy provided in ration Problems likely began earlier in the lactation BCS > 3.75 Too much energy provided in ration Also may result from extended calving intervals Avoid BCS loss in dry period Red Flags – Dry Cows

28. Summary of Body Condition Score Changes over a Lactation • BCS at calving affects lactation performance • If too thin, peak milk yields will be low and reproduction will be delayed • If too fat, metabolic diseases are very likely • Early lactation – BCS lost • Used to support milk production • Extreme loss hurts reproductive activity

29. By 80 to 120 days into the lactation • Weight loss should be minimal • Cows should begin to regain condition • Essential for strong exhibition of estrus (heat) and conception • After 120 days, all cows should be gaining about 0.75 to 1.0 pounds per day

30. If a cow enters the dry period fat • Maintain body condition – DO NOT LOSE • If a cow enters the dry period thin • May add a little condition early (first 3 weeks) • Section 3 will look at ways to identify and address body condition problems

31. Charting body condition during a lactation can help troubleshoot herd problems See the dairy nutrition website to download a spreadsheet that plots BCSand compares your animals to recommendations

32. Troubleshooting Tips • Indicators of body condition problems • Increase of 5 to 10% in rate of metabolic disease • Cows not able to maintain persistency or peak at expected levels of milk production • Wouldn’t you rather find these problems before cows get sick and milk drops??? • Score cows regularly to predict – and address – potential problems before they happen

33. Suggested BCS Schedule • Calving • 30 days after calving • First breeding • Pregnancy check • 60 days before dry-off • Dry-off • Possibly mid dry period if cows are having problems at calving or during early lactation

34. Normal Change Lactation 4 118 lb Peak Milk, at 42 DIM 305-d milk 27,510 lb

35. Small Heifer with High Production First Lactation, calved at 23 months 104 lb Peak Milk, at 140 DIM 305-d milk 24,730 lb

36. High Production Lactation 4 178 lb Peak Milk, at 35 DIM 305-d milk 36,590 lb

37. Low Production Lactation 4 97 lb Peak Milk, at 28 DIM 243-d Lactation 16,530 lb milk

38. Plan to Address BCS Problems • Nutrition Checklist • Dry Matter Intake – especially of forages • Feeding sequence • Fiber level of rations • Feeding frequency • Ration palatability • Bottom line • Make sure cows are eating enough • Provide at least 45% of DMI from forage sources

39. If those are adequate… • Check ration to be sure it is properly balanced for • Protein, energy, minerals, and vitamins • Test the forages and balance rations for each group of cows • When feeding hay crop silages, be sure to analyze for bound protein and adjust the ration accordingly • Examine grain and forage quality – focus on • Fineness of chop or grind of the ingredients • Smell, acceptability, and pH • Look at the amounts of bypass protein, soluble protein, starch ingredients, fats, and oils in the ration

40. How to Achieve High Milk Yields • Feed good-to-excellent quality forages that stimulate eating and enable cows to produce up to their maximum genetic potential

41. Nutritional Strategies to Manage BCS:Early Lactation • Feed extra energy in early lactation to offset negative energy balance • Added fat from oil seeds – no more than 5% of total ration dry matter • Higher levels upset rumen fermentation and decrease forage digestibility • Additional fat from bypass or protected fats (rumen inert) – an additional 2% of ration dry matter • Total fat in ration should not exceed 7% • When oils and fats are added to the ration • Increase calcium, magnesium, phosphorus 10% on a dry matter basis

42. Nutritional Strategies to Manage BCS:After Peak Milk • Cows should be gaining 0.75 to 1 lb per day • Balance ration to avoid over conditioning • If cows are getting too heavy • Protein may be limited, energy may be excessive

43. Nutritional Strategies to Manage BCS:Dry Cows • If cows fat at dry-off • Maintain condition to avoid weight loss • Feed average quality grass forages • Supplement 3 to 4 pounds of grain • Or, minimal amounts of corn silage and a grass hay mixture • If cows are thin at dry-off • Feed good quality grass forages • Supplement 3 to 4 pounds of grain